His shade was an odd too-small shape and his paint was flaking off in a few places…

… but I knew I could take him from log-cabin to log-cabin-chic with a little spray paint and a new shade. So guess what? Dude, I got on that (see how these odd, usually-animal-related “Dude Get On That Already” challenges started here). I got on that moose like a cowboy. That’s totally a thing right? Moose-riding cowboys?

As for a color, I knew I could go a bunch of ways with him (blue moose? yeah, buddy!) but after some serious moose-related thought I went with white. Why? Duh, because he looks like a ceramic animal first of all. And second of all, because that frees me up to do something crazy fun with his shade. We’re talking patterned fabric. Oh yeah. I’m a wild woman. I even have the exact shade in mind, but it’s a secret book project so I can’t share it until the 6th when the book is officially out – but I’m totally planning to pair that DIYed fabric shade with Malcolm (what? that’s my moose lamp’s name) and hook up Clara’s big girl room with a super fun dose of color and ceramic moose power.

The best part? When I had the lamp out on the table before I got around to spray priming and painting it (I just used Rustoleum Universal since it has a built in primer in it) I said “What’s that?” to Clara and pointed at the lamp and she said “I don’t know what it is” and I said “It’s a lamp with a moose on it!” and she said “I want a moose with a moose on it!” and I said “well I don’t have a moose with a moose on it, but it’s a lamp with a moose on it!” and Clara looked me in the eye and totally deadpanned: “moose… with… a… moose… on it.” Like she was spelling it out nice and slow so I’d understand. That chick is hilarious.

Thankfully after I sprayed him white and paired him up with the secret fabric shade that’s waiting in our crazy cluttered playroom (can’t believe it fits perfectly! it’s actually the original shade from the glass based lamps that a certain mischievous painting broke – we’d replaced the shades with whiter versions and had old ones around for secret book projects last December) Clara was 100% down with Malcolm…

… as in, she can’t wait for him to live with her in her big girl room. And she says goodnight and good morning to him every day (and even offers him snacks sometimes). The moral of the story? When in doubt, introduce a moose lamp to encourage manners and sharing.

And as for the photoshopping that I said I’d explain, I just faked a patterned shade (by grabbing this one from and photoshopping it on). And while I was at it, I showed how a white moose on a white table might be blah, but could be amazing on something painted – like a soft celery green table (or even a rustic wood dresser).

Moose, there it is.

What have you guy been getting on lately? Anyone else doing any other ceremonial spraying of animals? Or ceremonial spaying of animals?

Love the sherrified-moose! Was reading your post while eating my breakfast (on the WEST coast, I’m not thatt lazy… and today you had me cracking up! Love your blog, can’t wait for the book and Portland tour!!

I’ve been too hung up on the fact that there is a large gap between Pinterest and my real life to do much. Not really! But I’m overwhelmed with pregnancy and unpacking all the things we packed up to stage our house. Now that it’s off the market, I have to figure out why I have all those things in boxes and if I still want them. So mostly, I’m just making one-person-cake-in-a-mug for comfort. :)

I’m holding off until we move, but I pray I can find neat items like that and have the vision to make items like that for our home. Can’t wait to see the fabric!
Sidenote – I have a ceramic owl my aunt made that I had spray painted. I guess my issue was no priming because it dripped and ran. I ended up still loving it, but I think I have a lot to learn.

Your blog has totally inspired me to try spray painting animal figurines. I think I might raid my little brother’s old toys (and maybe some of mine…so pretty old at this point! thanks, parents, for hoarding!) and see what I can come up with. It’d be a kitschy yet cute way to decorate my sparse apartment without spending the big bucks.

Too bad I don’t have any moose. They’re a “thing” in my family since my grandma lives in Maine.

No moose painting but we did score a white elephant at hallmark on clearance. He is cute. I think he’s resin (not ceramic) but I totally thought of you, Sherry. We are working on re-doing our living room so he’s living in there right now… with our white ceramic horse that I’ve had for years.

You should save him until Christmas and then take him to a white elephant party. I’m pretty sure the term “white elephant” means gifts that aren’t very exciting or no one wants…but in this crowd I believe we would all covet that white elephant. All hail the white elephant!

Malcolm is a real looker. Moose, there it is…bahahaha! Totally random thought but I sing ‘who let the dogs out’ everytime I, well, open the door to let the dogs out. And of course I answer: ‘Me, Me, Me, Me, Me’

That’s hilarious because I recently had a pediatric patient who, upon returning from a procedure highly sedated, informed me that while she was gone, they did a “duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuhhhh-CATSCAN!”. Needless to say I immediately collapsed to the ground laughing hysterically.

I LOVE the moose lamp. Homes should be fun and funny. I love how much humour you bring to your style. Do you ever hit up garage or moving sales and not find something awesome?! Maybe my neighbors are just lame and don’t appreciate the awesomeness of things like a moose lamp! ;)

I love how whimsical the moose looks. Every time I go to the thrift store I ALWAYS look for ceramic animals to paint. Everyone else must have the same idea because I honestly can never find one. One of these days I’ll find the secret door to the ceramic animal mecca.

As for what we’ve been doing lately… keeping sane. We’ve had quite the fiasco hanging barn doors in the basement. Shattered egos and hair loss have been the major consequence of that. It’s finally sorted out though.

Can’t wait to see the lamp shade and to read your book! I am seriously counting down the days :)

Is Clara getting a big girl room sometime in the very near future? I think that’s the room I’ve been anticipating the start of the most. I remember how sweet those heart covered laterns you bought 100 years ago were and long for them to be used. haha.

The lamp looks great..can’t wait to see it in all of it’s glory after the book release.

So cute! I’m always amazed how you guys can take something so random and make it look so chic. You’re my inspiration!

Quick spray paint-related question (that I certainly hope you haven’t answered somewhere and I overlooked it!): when you tape something off before painting (like the light socket on this lamp) when do you take the tape/plastic off? It seems like doing it while the paint is still wet would be a huge mess, but is there a risk of damaging the finish if you let it dry? I’ve never tried this before but hope to soon. Thanks in advance! =)

I usually like to remove tape when things are dry in this case since it doesn’t matter (when you do lines on a wall you want to peel it faster since it makes for a cleaner line – but in this case it’s not a big deal to wait at all).

I actually love it! Now I want one for my son’s room.
Thanks to all your spray painting animal adventures you gave me the courage to spray some ceramic owls my sister gave me for my birthday. She had gotten them for me because I like owls and to freak me out (the previous owner had died, my sister is strange). I sprayed them white and I LOVE them. I have them all over the house now. So, thanks for inspiring me!

Moose lamp!!! I love it. And you know no one else has it! :) I hate to ask a question not related to this particular post but have you found a good program online that allows you to map out your home’s electrical (lights/outlets)? Thanks guys!

I also wanted to share this with you as you get ready to travel to Cincinnati: It’s an article from my favorite local newsletter here in town… and guys who’s featured? You guys! It is an interview with the event manager for Books by the Banks and he mentions you as “authors we haven’t read, but should.” I’m hoping to stop by the event and say hi (on my way to IKEA and the Frontgate outlet, of course!) Safe travels!

Due to a water leak from a recent rain, I’m in the processing of purging some living room furniture and doing some rearranging. None of my stuff was damaged except a cardboard box containing paper files for sorting (dude get on your filing). Now I have no excuse since I have to put everything back. The whole process has made me glad to be a renter since I don’t have to pay for any of the work.

You definitely don’t want to be a moose-riding cowboy. One winter up in Maine my dad and I saw a moose out in the woods and followed it for a while to take picture. Moose dont like you that close… it charged us. Scariest thing that’s ever happened! Be happy with a moose lamp you can pet- dont get any closer than that! lol

OMG Moose on the Loose! Clara is such a sweet girl!
So polite to share snacks with her new roomie. HA
I did spray paint some black candle holders white.
White is so 2012!!! It really does make me smile while I am
spray painting…weird huh?